Swiss Film Festival Cancels Israeli Film "Beyond the Silence" Amid Boycott Threats
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
The Everybody’s Perfect queer film festival in Geneva canceled the screening of the Israeli film "Beyond the Silence" due to boycott threats from pro-Palestinian organizations. Festival organizers asked director Moshe Rosenthal for his stance on the Israeli government and the war in Gaza before making the decision. The film's producers condemned the move, arguing that films and filmmakers should not be held responsible for government policies. "Beyond the Silence" was Israel's submission for the Academy Awards.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Swiss film festival Everybody’s Perfect canceled Israeli film "Beyond the Silence" due to boycott threats.
- Pro-Palestinian groups, including BDS Geneva, pressured the festival to remove the film.
- Festival organizers asked director Moshe Rosenthal for his political stance before canceling.
- Producers stated films and filmmakers do not represent government policies.
- "Beyond the Silence" was Israel's selection for the Academy Awards.
- The cancellation is seen as part of a broader cultural boycott against Israel.
The Everybody’s Perfect queer film festival in Geneva, Switzerland, has removed the Israeli film "Beyond the Silence" (original title "עצמאות") from its program following boycott threats from a coalition of local organizations, including the Palestine Film Festival. The festival had initially included the film, directed by Moshe Rosenthal, which was selected to represent Israel in the Oscar race.
Festival organizers stated that they received emails threatening a boycott from groups such as the Geneva branch of BDS and a student group from the University of Geneva. Charlotte Spector, the festival's communications manager, described the threats as "very significant." The festival's artistic director, Sylvie Cachin, explained the cancellation was not about the film itself but an attempt to avoid controversy days before the event's opening, aiming to ensure other films received proper attention.
Prior to the cancellation, festival management asked director Moshe Rosenthal to clarify his stance on the Israeli government and the war in Gaza. Rosenthal and the Israeli production company Green Productions responded that they do not represent the Israeli government and do not fund or produce films supporting its policies. Despite this statement, the festival proceeded with the removal.
The producers of "Beyond the Silence" criticized the decision, stating, "A film does not represent a government, and filmmakers should not be held responsible for its policies." They emphasized that many Israelis oppose the war and criticize their government, questioning if similar statements would be demanded from Iranian or American filmmakers. They expressed a desire for an international film community that allows for diverse perspectives and dialogue, rather than excluding artists based on their origin.
"Beyond the Silence," which won top honors at the recent Ophir Awards, tells the story of a 12-year-old boy discovering a secret about his father in the 1980s amidst the AIDS crisis. The article notes that cultural boycotts against Israel have become more visible as the war in Gaza has prolonged, referencing a previous incident in June where director Nadav Lapid was removed from a jury at the FID Marseille film festival.
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